This forgotten website with millions of pics is a free stock image goldmine

If you’re looking to find some free stock images for your blog post, website, or upcoming project, then this forgotten website with millions of pictures is a gold mine. It’s been around for years, but it’s so often overlooked that most people barely know it exists, despite being one of the largest sources of free images on the web. No payments, no monthly subscriptions — just a huge pile of free pics.

Why do writers care about stock photos?

A good stock photo can help your blog post or article stand out from the rest. They can provide visual interest and break up large blocks of text, helping to keep readers engaged. And when used correctly, they can add a professional touch that makes your work look polished and well-researched.

Unfortunately, you sometimes have to pay for stock photos you want to use. Many of the most popular stock photo sites, like Adobe Stock and iStock, charge a monthly fee or require you to pay per image.

That’s not always an option for writers on small budgets. And while there are free sites like Unsplash (which we use all the time) and StockSnap, not all of their images are free, and the selection may be limited

Where can writers find a huge pile of free pictures?

The site you should be using is called Wikimedia Commons. Wikimedia Commons was created in 2004 by the Wikimedia Foundation, a non-profit organization that operates Wikipedia. The site is home to over 38 million images, videos, and audio files that are free to use for any purpose — commercial or otherwise.

Best of all, there’s no need to create an account or login; just browse and download whatever you need. And if you’re looking for a particular type of pic or photo, then use the search bar to find it. The results will show both featured and non-featured images — meaning that there’s still plenty of free content without having to wade through paid stock photos first.

The search feature they provide is powerful. You can even search by topic, photo size, or license type. If you’re looking for a specific subject or style of photo, then searching by those tags instead of scrolling through their entire catalog will save you some time.

In addition to photos and videos that anyone can use without restriction, there are also images available under a free Creative Commons license. This means the creator has decided they want people to use and remix their work, within certain guidelines. For example, you might find a photo that’s free to use for any purpose, but the creator requests that you give them credit if you do.

How can writers use Wikimedia Commons images in their work?

Once you’ve found an image on Wikimedia Commons that you want to use, there are two ways to go about it.

The easiest way is by saving the image directly from your browser tab. You can do that by right-clicking on any photo and choosing “Save Image As” or something similar — depending on your browser, of course. When you’ve downloaded an image this way, then you can upload it wherever you want and use it however you like.

If you want to embed the image on your website, then you’ll need to get the HTML code. This is a snippet of code that tells your website how to display the photo. To get the HTML code, click on the “Share” button underneath any photo on Wikimedia Commons. A pop-up will appear with all the necessary information, including the HTML code.

Simply copy and paste that code into your website’s HTML editor, and the photo will show up on your page. You can also use a service like CodePen or Glitch to easily embed images from Wikimedia Commons without having to write any code yourself.

Conclusion

We hope this article has shown you that Wikimedia Commons is a great resource for free stock photos. With 38 million images and videos, it’s hard to run out of options — no matter what your project is. So next time you need an image for your blog post or article, take a look at Wikimedia Commons first. You may be surprised at just how many good pics you can find there.

Disclaimer: This article is not legal advice. Always read and follow the rules when it comes to attribution and image use!